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Lessons from the Acts of the Apostles.
FOR SENIOR CLASSES.
October 1 to December 25,1892.
LESSON I.—Oetober 1, 1892.
SAUL OF TARSUS CONVERTED.—ACTS
(MEMORY VERSES, 15-18.)
GOLDEN TEXT.—" Except a man be born again, he cannot see the king-
dom
of
God." John 3: 3.
1.
Who is mentioned as a leader in the martyr-
dom of Stephen? Acts 7:58; 8 :I.
2.
What did he from that time do to the church?
Acts 8:3; Gal. 1:13.
3.
What was his feeling, and how did he mani-
fest it? Acts 26:11.
4.
What motive prompted him to such a course?
Acts 26:9.
5.
How prominent was he in the Jewish nation ?
Gal. 1: T4.
6.
What support did he have in his work of
persecution in distant cities? Acts 9:I, 2.
7.
What took place as he came near Damascus?
Verse 3.
( 3 )
4
LESSONS FROM THE ACTS.
8.
What time of-day was it? Acts 26:13.
9.
What followed the appearance of the bright
light? Acts 9:4; 26:14.
NOTE.—L"
It
is hard for thee to kick against the pricks."
These words of Jesus throw light on Saul's career, if they
do not reveal the secret of his zealous persecution. They
show that he was fighting against conviction. He was
conscientious. Acts 24: i6. He was zealous for God,
although not according to knowledge. He regarded the
new sect as dangerous to the cause of God; and, not
knowing the liberty of the gospel, he supposed that force
might be used in the matters of religion. But he had
heard Stephen's discourse, and a conviction that these
persecuted ones might be right would persistently thrust
itself upon him. This conviction he regarded as a sinful
thought, and, shocked that he could for a moment harbor
such a thought, he would redouble his efforts against the
church. So at last Christ himself appeared to him,* and
Saul at once yielded. This should be a lesson to us to
be careful how we accuse those who oppose the truth, of
being dishonest. They may, like Paul, be kicking against
the pricks. If we say that these have heard the truth, we
must remember that Saul had also, and that it had been
preached with a power more than human. It would be
difficult for any man to be more bitter against the truth
than Saul was; yet he was sincere, and afterwards
preached the faith which he once destroyed. This record
is given to emphasize the lesson that the Saviour has
given us, that we should in every case withhold judg-
ment.
to. What was the reply to Saul's question as to
who was speaking to him? Acts 9:5.
.To show him that this conviction was not from Satan but from him.
LESSONS FROM THE ACTS.
5
t. For what purpose did the Lord say he had
appeared to him? Acts 26:16-18.
12.
Where was he sent to find out what he
should do? Acts 9:6; 22: IO.
13.
How intelligible was the conversation to
Saul's associates ? Acts 9:7.; 22:9•
14.
How had the light affected Saul? Acts 9:
8; 22: II.
15.
How did he spend the three days following
his entrance into Damascus? Acts 9: 9•
16.
Whom did the Lord send to him? Verses
10-12.
17.
What did the Lord say to Ananias, to remove
his doubts? Verses 13-16.
NOTE.-" I will show him how great things he must suf-
fer for my name's sake." Saul was called to suffering; so
are all that will live godly in Christ Jesus. 2 Tim. 3:12;
Phil. t: 29; I Thess. 3:3. The secret of Paul's steadfast-
ness was that he recognized this calling from the first.
He never encountered anything unexpected. The men
who apostatize when persecution arises are the ones who
have calculated on having an easy time. They are the
men for whom the way has been cleared, so that they
could embrace the truth without any difficulty. They are
like the soldiers who enlist thinking that army life is all
dress parade, and who very naturally run when they see
fighting. But the true soldier enlists with the understand-
ing that he may receive wounds. So the men who enter
the cause of God expecting tribulation, will not be moved
by it. But while God calls men to suffering, he at the
same time makes known to them his own joy, so that
they can say that this "light affliction, which is but for a
moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eter-
nal weight of glory." 2 Cor. 4:17. See also Rom. 8:18.
6
LESSONS FROM THE ACTS.
18.
What did Ananias say to Saul? Verse 17;
chap.
22 : 12-16.
19.
What did Saul immediately do? Acts 9:
18-2o.
zo. How successful was his preaching? Verses
21, 22.
LESSON II.—Oetobert 8,1892.
DORCAS RAISED TO LIFE.—ACTS
g:3
2-
43.
(MEMORY VERSES,33,34.)
GOLDEN
TEXT.
—"This woman was full of good works and almsdeeds
which she did." Acts 9: 36.
1. Where was Peter when we last heard of him ?
Acts 8:14,
25.
2.
To what place did .he finally come? Acts
9:32.
3. What afflicted person did he find there?
Verse 33.
4. What did Peter say to him? and what was
the result? Verse 34.
5. What was the effect of this miracle? Verse
35.
6. What pious woman lived at Joppa? Verse
36.
7. Upon her death, what did the disciples do?
Verses 37, 38.
8. What did Peter find on his arrival at Joppa?
Verse 39.
9. What did he do? Verse 4o, first part.
io. What was the result? Verses 4o, 41.
LESSONS FROM THE ACTS. •
11.
How were many affected toward the word ?
Verse 42.
12.
To what miracle of Jesus' was this one simi-
lar? Luke 8 : 49-56.
13.
What signs did Jesus say should go with
believers? Mark 16:17, 18.
14.
How great works did he say should be done
by those who believe on him? John 14:12-14:
15.
Is this promise limited to believers in any
particular age?
NOTE. Jesus said, "These signs shall follow them that
believe," naming several. And again, " Verily, verily, I
say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I
do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall
he do; because I go unto my Father." What greater
works can be,done it is impossible to say; but we have
the word of Christ that they shall be done. Those who
ask, " Why don't we see some miracles, if they are to be
in the church till the end of time? " do not realize that
in every age the gifts of the Spirit have been manifested
in the church, although often to a limited extent. But i f
it is asked why miracles are not so common now as in the
first century, we can only reply by pointing to the condi-
tions. When the same devotion, unselfishness, faith, and
zeal are seen among believers, then the same power may
be expected to be seen in the church.
LESSON III.—Oetober 15, 1892.
PETER'S VISION.—ACTS t o :1-29.
(MEMORY VERSES,
1-4.)
GOLDEN TEXT.
—" Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of per-
sons." Acts so:34.
i. Describe the character of Cornelius the cen-
turion. Acts 10: 1, 2.
8
LESSONS FROM THE ACTS.
Nora.—In the case of Cornelius we have a striking illus-
tration of Christ's words, "If any man will do His will,
he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or
whether I speak of myself." John 7:17. God wants to
save men. He is on the lookout for men to save. So
anxious is he to save them that he rejects no candidate,
but wherever he sees one feeling after him, he at once
takes his hand and leads him out into the clear light. Of
his servant, in whose hands is the difficult task of making
holy people out of the most unpromising material, he
says: "A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smok-
ing flax shall he not quench; he shall bring forth judgment
unto truth. He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he
have set judgment in the earth." Isa. 4
2
:3, 4.
2.
What appeared to him one day as he was
praying? Verse 3.
3.
What message did the angel bring him?
Verses 4-6.
4.
What did he do in response to the words of
the angel? Verses 7, 8.
5.
As the men drew near to Joppa the next day,
what was Peter doing? Verses g, Io.
6.
Relate Peter's vision in detail. Verses II-16.
NOTE.—There are probably few nowadays who take so
superficial a view of this portion of Scripture as to suppose
that it is meant to teach that all animals are equally clean,
and may be eaten. The distinction between clean and
unclean beasts
.
was not an arbitrary one, but was inherent
in the nature of the beasts. That nature remains the same
to-day that it always was. Moreover, Peter plainly tells
the object of the vision. It was intended as an impressive
lesson to teach him that he was not to sit in judgment on
men, calling one clean and another unclean. He is not
to judge that one man is beyond the possibility of salva-
LESSONS FROM THE ACTS.
9
tion, but is to sow beside all waters, not knowing
"whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether
they both shall be alike good." Eccl. II:6.
7.
What followed as soon as the vision passed?
Verses 17, 18.
8.
How was Peter prepared to receive the mes-
sage which the men brought? Verses 19, zo.
9.
In what words did they reply to Peter's ques-
tion as to their business with him? Verses 21, 22.
ro. When did they return to Csarea? Verse
23.
1. What precaution was taken to have wit-
nesses of what took place? Verse 23, last part.
12.
What preparation had Cornelius made for
Peter's arrival? Verse 24.
13.
What took place when he met Peter? Verses
25, 26.
14.
What did Peter say when he went in and
found the company assembled? Verses 27-29.
15.
What law forbade a Jew to keep company
with one of another nation?
NOTE.—The
student will search in vain throughout the
Old Testament to find any law whereby God forbade the
Jews to associate with the Gentiles. It is true that he
forbade them to intermarry with the heathen, and so he
still forbids his people to be unequally yoked with unbe-
lievers. Likewise he calls his people to come out from
the world, and be separate. As in the old time, so
now, he wants his people to be a peculiar people; but
nowhere do we find in ancient times he wanted his people
to be any more distinct and separate from the world than
he does now. The
law
to which Peter referred was
10
LESSONS FROM THE ACTS.
simply one of the traditions of the Jews by which they
made void the law of God. See Matt. 15: 1-9; Mark 7 :
1-13. God was emancipating Peter from the shackles of
Jewish tradition. If he had not been so firmly bound, he
would have learned the same lesson from the life of
Christ, who never paid any attention to the traditions
which Jewish bigotry had invented.
16.
What did Peter say that God had showed
him? Verse 28, last part.
17.
What are God's people not to do? Malt. 7:
1; Rom. 14:4; James 4:11, 12.
18.
When only is judgment to be rendered?
Cor. 4:5.
19.
When will the saints be allowed to judge
men ? Dan. 7:22.
20.
Until that time what is the church's only
office? Matt. 5: 14-16; Phil. 2: 14-16.
21.
State some of the evidences that before the
first advent of Christ, as well as after, God wanted
his people to be missionaries.
NOTE. —That God's design for the Jews was that they
should be a missionary people, is plainly shown in the
Scriptures. To Abraham God said, " In thee shall all fam•
ilies of the earth be blessed." Gen. 12:3. He had also
said to him, "Thou shalt be a blessing." Therefore all
who are children of Abraham must likewise be a blessing.
Long before the first advent of Christ, God had spoken of
himself through Isaiah as "a light to the Gentiles," as
well as the Restorer of Israel. Isa, 49:6. Moses had said
to Israel: "Behold, I have taught you statutes and judg-
ments, even as the Lord my God commanded me, that ye
should do so in the land whither ye go to possess it.
Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and
LESSONS FROM THE ACTS.
11
your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall
hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is
a wise and understanding people." Deut. 4:5, 6. This
shows that they were to let the nations know of God's
truth. The case of Naaman the Syrian, of the queen of
Sheba, of Jeremiah, sent to the nations round about Israel
(Jer.
27:
1-4, etc.), and of Jonah, sent to the Ninevites,
shows that God desired the salvation of other nations no
less than of Israel, and that he wished to use the Israel-
ites as the agents in their salvation.
-*
•
It
-
LESSON
IV.—Oetober 22, 1892.
PETER AT CIESAREA.—ACTS 10:3o-48.
(MEMORY VERSES,39-43.)
GOLDEN TEXT.—" Through His name whosoever believeth in Him shall
receive remission of sins." Acts ,o: 43.
r. Tell how -God prepared Peter to go to the
house of Cornelius.
2.
How did Cornelius come to send for Peter?
Acts io: 30-33.
3.
In what excellent condition to receive the
truth was Cornelius and his friends? Verse 33,
last part.
4.
With what words did Peter begin his dis-
course? Verses 34, 35•
5.
Was this a truth of recent origin? Gen.
12:
3; Jonah 3: to.
6.
With what were Cornelius and his friends ac-
quainted? Acts ro: 36-38.
7.
What did Peter then recount? Verses 39-
41.
Y2
LESSONS FROM THE ACTS.
8.
What had Christ's witnesses been commanded
to preach? Verse 42.
9.
To what had all the prophets also given
witness? Verse 43.
io. Then was justification by faith a new thing in
the days of Christ and his apostles? Gen. 15:6;
Heb. 4: 2; Gal. 3:8.
II. What took place while Peter was still speak-
ing? Acts
1
o:44.
12.
What 'did the Spirit cause them to do?
Verse 46.
13.
How did this manifestation affect Peter's
brethren? Verse 45•
14.
What did Peter himself say? Verses 46, 47.
15.
What was immediately done ?
16.
What did the pouring out of the Spirit on
the Gentiles prove to the Jews ? Acts 11:15-17.
17.
What ought they to have known from the
Scriptures, without this demonstration ? Gen.
12:
3; Gal. 3: 8.
NOTE.
-If
anyone thinks that the Jews would certainly
have known it if their Scriptures had taught that the Lord
was as anxious for the salvation of other people as he was
for the salvation of the Jews, let him remember how impos-
sible it was for the disciples to grasp the idea that Christ
was going to die, which was not only contained in the
Scriptures, but was plainly and repeatedly declared to
them by the Saviour in person. It needed this outpour-
ing of the Spirit upon the Gentiles to convince the disci-
ples that God is no respecter of persons. But God is al-
ways the same, therefore he was never any respecter of
persons. So it was always true that "in every nation he
LESSONS FROM THE ACTS.
13
that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted
with him." Peter's tardy recognition of the truth did not
make it a new thing with God.
LESSON V.—Oetober 29, 1892.
THE GOSPEL PREACHED AT ANTIOCH.—ACTS
11:19-3o.
(MEMORY VERSES, 21-2q.)
GOLDEN TEXT.
-
"
A
great number believed, and turned unto the Lord."
Acts
II: 2I.
I. What took place immediately upon the
death of Stephen? Acts 8: I.
2.
To whom did they preach the word ? Acts
11 :19.
3.
What different course did the disciples from
Cyprus and Cyrene pursue? Verse
20.
4.
What was the result? Verse 21.
5.
When the news of this came to the church in
Jerusalem, what did they do? Verse 22.
6.
What did Barnabas do ? Verse 23.
7.
What was the result? Verse 24.
8.
What is further said of his work and unself-
ishness? Verses
25,
26.
9.
How long did they two continue to preach
in Antioch? Verse 26.
io. For what is Antioch noted in the history of
the gospel
last part.
1. While Saul and Barnabas were there, what
was prophetically declared to the church I
-
Verses
27, 28.
14
LESSONS FROM TELE ACTS.
12.
What did the Christians at Asitioch deter-
mine to do? Verse
29.
13.
How was this resolution carried out ? Verse
3o.
14.
What exhortation should the church always
have in mind? Gal. 6: to.
15.
What was the apostle Paul's practice ? Gal.
2: IO.
LESSON AI.—November 5, 1892.
PETER DELIVERED FROM PRISON.—ACTS
12:1-24.
(MEMORY VERSES, 5-8.)
GOLDE/s TEXT.—" The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them
that fear him, and delivereth them." Ps. 34:
7.
1.
Recite briefly the events of the last lesson.
2.
What took place about that time? Acts
2.
3.
How did Herod further seek to gain the
favor of the Jews? Verse 3.
4.
How securely was Peter guarded? Verse 4.
5.
What means did the church employ for
Peter's release? Verse 5.
6.
What was Peter's condition the very night
before he was to be killed ? Verse 6.
7.
What words of the Psalmist could Peter
have spoken ? Ps. 4:8.
8.
While Peter was sleeping, who came upon
him ? Acts 12
:
7.
9.
Where had the angel of the Lord been all the
time? Ps. 34: 7.
LESSONS FROM THE ACTS.
15
to. What did the angel do and say? Acts 12:
7, 8.
t. What did Peter think of all this? Verse 9.
12.
How far did the angel lead him? Verse to.
13.
What did Peter:,then know? Verse u.
14.
What did he do? Verse I2.
15.
What took place when Peter knocked at the
door where the disciples were praying? Verses
1
3,
1
4.
16.
How did those assembled receive Rhoda's
joyful news? Verses 15, 16.
17.
When Peter was admitted, what did he do ?
Verse 17.
18.
What was Herod's end? Verses 20-23.
19.
How successful was his attempt to crush out
the gospel ? Verse 24.
NOTE.—The fact that Herod was not able to keep Peter
in prison, shows that he did not have it in his power to
grant him any favors. He who has no power to punish,
has no power to protect. But the power of Herod repre-
sents the power of all civil governments. God's people
have nothing to receive of them, and should ask them
for nothing. Peter could do much more for Herod than
Herod could do for Peter. Even while Peter was in
prison, Herod might well have sought his protection.
" The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them
that fear him, and delivereth them," and they who have
that protection need no other. Indeed, if they seek any
other, they thereby tend to deprive themselves of that,
for by so doing they show their lack of faith in the Lord's
protection. The Lord says, " Put not your trust in
princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help."
Ps. 146: 3. "Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for
his help, whose hope is in the Lord his God; which made
heaven, and earth." Verses 5, 6.
16
LESSONS FROM THE ACTS.
. But it may be said that God uses civil rulers to accom-
plish his purposes. That is true, and he alone knows
how and when to use them. None of them have any
power over his people except as he gives it to them.
John 19: it. Therefore, if he allows them to be put to
death, as in the case of Stephen and James, they may
know that it is his will. " He giveth his beloved sleep."
And if the Lord has work still for his servants to do,
they may rest confident that there is not power enough
in the world to keep them in prison.
LESSON
VII.-1'siov.
12, 1892.
CHRISTIAN MISSIONARIES.—ACTS 13
: 1-15.
(MEMORY VERSES,•2-4.)
GOLDEN TEXT. -" That repentance and remission of sins should be
preached in his name among all nations."
Luke
24:47.
i. What steps did the Christians at Antioch
take in view of the dearth that was fcbretold? Acts
it : 28, 29.
2.
By whom did they send their gifts? Verse 3o.
3.
When Barnabas and Saul returned to An-
tioch, whom did they take with them ? Acts
1 2 :
25.
4.
Who were prominent in the church at An-
tioch? Acts t3:
I.
5.
What did the Spirit say as they were en-
gaged in the work? Verse 2.
6.
How did they obey this command? Verse 3.
7.
While thus sent by the church, who was
really sending Barnabas and Saul? Verse 4.
8.
Where did they first go
?—Ib.
LESSONS FROM THE ACTS.
17
9. At what town in Cyprus did they first preach?
Verse 5.
I°. Who assisted them in their work?—Ib.
To what place did they next go ? Verse 6.
12.
Whom did they there find? Verses 6, 7.
13.
What opposition was here met? Verse 8.
14.
How was Satan's agent rebuked ? Verses
9—II.
15.
What were the immediate results? Verses
II, 12.
16.
Whose work was this sharp rebuke? Veise 9.
17.
Where did Paul and his company go from
Paphos? Verse 13, first part.
18.
What took place there
?—Ib.;
last part.
19.
What was their next point? Verse 14.
zo. What invitation did they here receive?
Verse 15.
NOTE.
-If
this lesson were entitled " Paul's First Mis-
sionary Tour," it would more nearly express the fact in
the case than it now does. That would not be really
correct either, for when Paul went into the regions of
Syria and Cilicia, preaching the word, he was just as
truly on a missionary journey as at this time. Those who,
after the death of Stephen, went everywhere preaching
the word, were on a missionary journey just as surely as
Paul and Barnabas were. Philip was on a missionary
journey when he came to Samaria, and it was when he
was on a missionary trip that the eunuch was converted.
All these men were Christians, and were preaching
Christ. And it was before Paul was even converted. So
it is evidently a misnomer to entitle this lesson " The
First Christian Missionaries."
LESSONS FROM THE ACTS.
23
NOTE.—It
was not because of fear that the apostles fled
from one city to another when they were persecuted, as is
shown by the fact that they returned over the same road.
After Paul was stoned, he went back into the city,
and when they had finished their missionary tour, they
went back over every city that they had visited. They
fled because they were driven away, and could not at that
time do anything more in those places. The slight refer-
ence, also, that is made to the stoning of Paul, contains a
wonderful lesson, more expressive than anything else
could be. What a rebuke for those of us who are inclined
to make a great ado over even a little slight or reproach
that comes to us in the line of our work. It can be ex-
plained only by remembering that Paul had in him the
mind of Christ (see Phil.
2:5-7;
John 4: 34;
2 Cor. 8:9;
Heb. 2 : t, 2), and esteemed all these things as light afflic-
tions (2
Cor. 4:16-18).
LiESSON XL—Deeember 10, 1892.
THE APOSTOLIC COUNCIL.—ACTS 15: I-I 1.
(MEMORY VERSES, 8-11,)
GOLDEN TEXT.—" Through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall
be saved, even as they." Acts 15: rr.
1. To what place did Paul and Barnabas return
to labor after their missionary trip? Acts 14:25-
28.
2:
While they were there, what was taught the
disciples by men who came from Judea? Acts 15:
NOTE.—IT is quite necessary to note the character of the
men who made the trouble at Antio
.
ch and elsewhere. The
24
LESSONS FROM THE ACTS.
apostles and elders at Jerusalem said of them that " cer-
tain which went out from us have troubled you with
words; subverting your souls; to whom we gave no com-
mandment." Verse 24, Revised Version. It will be
noticed that in the Old Version "such " is a supplied
word. Thus these men were irresponsible persons who
did not represent the church. The apostles were not in
sympathy with them. Their work was to subvert souls.
This they did by preaching a perverted gospel (Gal. 1:7),
for they were doing the same work that was afterwards
done by the men who tried to overthrow Paul's work in
Galatia. They professed to represent the church of
Christ, but only that they might the more readily gain
access to the disciples, to subvert them. They were
"false brethren," from whose malice Paul was often in
peril. See 2 Cor. 11:26.
3.
What standing had these men in the church?
Verse 24.
4.
How did the apostle Pahl characterize them?
Gal. 2:4.
5.
How was their work received by Paul and
Barnabas ? Acts 15:2, first part.
6.
Why did Paul and Barnabas thus oppose
them? Gal. 2:5.
7.
Then of what must the teaching of these men
have been subversive ? Gal. 1 : 7; Acts 15:24.
NOTE.—It should also be specially borne in mind that
the subject of the controversy was the gospel. That was
what made the question a vital one. It was concerning
how men must be saved. Paul and Barnabas preached
salvation by faith; these men taught salvation by man's
work. If men must be circumcised in order to be saved,
then faith in Christ would be proved to be insufficient.
LESSONS FROM THE ACTS.
25
As Paul afterwards wrote, " If righteousness came by
the law, then is Christ dead in vain." Gal. 2:21. More-
over, the fact that the gospel was the subject of dispute
is shown by Paul's statement that he resisted those men
•
in order that the truth of the gospel might remain with
his converts. Gal. 2:5. These false brethren professed
to have the gospel, because they set forth what they
claimed was the way of salvation; but there was no truth
in their gospel. The truth of the gospel is that " through
the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved,"
and that " there is none other name under heaven given
among men, whereby we must be saved." See also
Rom. to:6-1o; Titus 3:3-6.
8.
What would their teaching do for the dis-
ciples? Acts 15: to, 24.
9.
What was finally determined to be done in
the matter? Acts 15:2.
to. Was it the decision of the church alone that
caused Paul to go up? Gal. 2: I, 2.
II. What is said of their journey to Jerusalem?
Acts 15 : 3.
12.
What did they do when they got to Jerusa-
lem? Verse 4; Gal. 2:2.
13.
Did Paul have to learn anything of the apos-
tles. and elders assembled at Jerusalem ? Gal. 2:
6;
1, 12.
•
14.
When there had been much disputing in the
council, to what did Peter call their attention?
Acts 15:6, 7.
15.
What had God done for the Gentiles when
the gospel was first preached to them by Peter?
Verse 8; Acts to:44.
26
LESSONS FROM TEE ACTS.
16.
What was it concerning which God made
no difference between the Jews and the Gentiles?
Acts 15:9; Rom.
3:22.
17.
Why does God make no difference between.
the Jews and the Gentiles in the matter of purify-
ing the heart? Acts 15:8, first part; Rom. 3:
22,
23.
NOTE.—Peter declared that in the matter of the purifi-
cation of the heart God made no difference between the
Jews and the Gentiles. This is proof of the statement
that the subject under discussion was the vital one of
salvation. The fact that God "put no difference between
us and them " was shown in his giving to uncircumcised
Gentiles the gift of the Holy Ghost, even as he did to the
apostles and brethren on Pentecost. And the reason
why God thus put no difference between the Jews and the
Gentiles, in the matter of justification, was that " he
knoweth the hearts." There is no difference between
the heart of the Jew and the heart of thp Gentile, because
all alike have sinned. Rom. 3: 9, 22, 23. Men, judging
by the outward appearances, often make a difference be-
tween men, but God, who looks upon the heart, knows
that all are alike; therefore he puts no difference between
men in the matter of cleansing the heart.
18.
What did Peter say would be put upon the
disciples if the teaching of the false brethren was
adopted? Acts 15: 10.
19.
How only are all men to he saved? Verse
; Rom. 3:
22-24.
LESSONS FROM THE ACTS.
29
ever is not of faith is sin." But he who thinks that he
must keep the law
in addition
to faith in Christ, thereby
shows that he does not have faith in Christ's righteous-
ness. The obedience which he proposes to
add to his
faith
is the obedience that comes form self-righteousness,
or sin. But sin is bondage. Rom. 7:14. Therefore the
teaching of false brethren was leading souls into bondage
—putting a grievous yoke upon them.
_
8. When only is circumcision profitable? Rom.
2:25.
9. What is real circumcision?
Rom. 2:29;
Phil.
3:
3.
to. Of what was circumcision a sign?.' Rom. 2:
25-27; 4: rt.
1. Where must righteousness be to be of any
value? Deut. 6: 4-6; Ps.
51:6.
12.
Who only can put righteousness in the heart?
Jer. 31:33.
13.
Then from whom alone must true circum-
cision come? Deut. 3o:6; Col. 2: I I.
14.
01 what could circumcision in the flesh only,
performed by man, be the sign?—Of the righteous-
ness of the flesh.
15.
What is the righteousness of the flesh?
Rom. 8:5-8; Gal. 5:19-21.
16.
Therefore what is done for men when they
are led to trust in circumcision, or works of obedi-
ence, for salvation? Acts 15:1o. It is to lead
them to rest securely in sin. See Rev.
3 : 17.
30
LFSSO_VS FROM THE ACTS.
17.
Was the service which God required of his
people grievous or burdensome? i John 5:3;
I
Kings 8:62-66; Ps. 116:16, 17.
18.
Who only are in bondage? John
8
:34;
Rom. 7:14.
19.
As the Jews had perverted the religion of the
Lord, what did their zeal for the law result in?
,Matt. 15:3, 8, 9; Rom. 2:23, 24; Luke 11:46.
NOTE.
-It
should not be forgotten that "the Jews' re-
ligion" (Gal.
1:13, 14)
was vastly different from the relig-
ion of God, as given through Moses. It consisted of
traditions.
Those traditions were the invention of the
" fathers " (not Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob) to insure that
the law should not be broken. Trusting for salvation
only in the law, and knowing that the law required perfect
obedience in every detail, they naturally set themselves
to find out the utmost details of the law. So they kept
adding burdensome ceremony to burdensome ceremony
until it took a lifetime even to know what the traditions
were. But all this was to no purpose, for their fine-spun
traditions concerning the law were only the product of
their own sinful minds; their most scrupulous service was
only the service of the flesh, without the Spirit of God,
and hence was sin. Thus they made void the law of God
by their traditions. While trusting in the law, they broke
the law. From all such slavish services Christ delivers
us. See Rom. 7:6. He gives rest to the heavy laden,
and makes the soul free indeed.
20.
What does Christ give? Matt. 11:28; John
8 : 36; Rom. 8 :
2.
LESSONS FROM THE ACTS.
31
LtESSON XIII.—beeernbeti 24,1892.
THE QUESTION SETTLED.—ACTS xs:
(MEMORY VERSE, ACTS 5:1z.)
GOLDEN TEXT.—"Prove
all things; hold fast that which is good."
Thess.
5:
2z.
I. Tell what led to the conference in Jerusalem.
2.
What was the importance of the question?
3.
Give Peter's argument in the case.
4.
When Peter had finished, what did Barnabas
and Paul tell? Acts 15:12.
5.
Who spoke next? Verse 13.
6.
To what did he refer? Verse 14.
7.
To whom did he refer as authority for their
preaching to the Gentiles? Verse 15.
8.
What prophecy did he specify? Verses 16,
17; Amos 9:it,
12.
9.
How long had God had it upon his mind to
save the Gentiles? Acts 15:14.
NOTE.—The
facts concerning the Gentiles were argu-
ments that could not be overcome. God had abundantly
blessed the labor that had been done among them, as
shown by Peter and Paul and Barnabas. This showed
that God was not only willing to save the Gentiles, but
that he would save them by simple faith. When God
poured out his Spirit upon them, so that they spoke with
tongues, no one who reverenced the Lord could say that
there was something still lacking that the Gentiles must
do before they could be saved. That the salvation of the
Gentiles was not a new thing in God's plan is shown by
LESSONS FROM THE ACTS.
33
mediately connected with idolatry that it was necessary
for the converts from among the heathen to be especially
on their guard to avoid pollution of idols. These things, in
which the Gentile converts might sin without realizing it,
so common were they, were especially noted, but it was
necessary for the apostles to go further into particulars
concerning the Christian life, for the disciples had con-
stant access to the writings of Moses, in which the Chris-
tian life is set forth, for he wrote of Christ. John 5:46,47.
13. Why was it necessary to specify even these?
NOTE.—One
point
may be referred to as showing that,
in setting forth the law, Moses was describing Christ,
through whom alone the righteousness of the law is fulfilled.
In Deut. 3o:11-14 Moses, after having set forth the law,
says: "For this commandment which I command thee
this day, it is not hidden from thee, neither is it far off.
It is not in heaven, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go
up for us to heaven, and bring it unto us, that we may
hear it, and do it? Neither is it beyond the sea, that thou
shouldest say, Who shall go over the sea for us, and bring
it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it? But the word
is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart,
that thou mayest do it." But in Rom. to:5-9 Paul tells
us that this refers to Christ. This was not left obscure
by Moses, so that the Jews would think that the com-
mandment must be kept by them apart from Christ, for
just before the verses quoted Moses tells them that God
would circumcise their heart to keep his law (Deut. 3o:6,
8), and just afterward he said, "That thou mayest love
the Lord thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice,
and that thou mayest cleave unto him; for he is thy life,
and the length of thy days." Deut. 3o: zo.
34
LESSONS FROM THE ACTS.
14.
Were these things ci" minor importance?.
Verses 28, 29.
15.
Are these things to be observed in these
days as well as theA .
16.
What steps did the brethren,fake to relieve
the minds of the new converts who had been
troubled? Verses
22, 23.
17.
What commendation was given to Barnabas
and Paul? Verses 25, 26.
18.
What did the apostles agree was evidently
the work of Barnabas and Paul?
.
Gal. 2: 7-9.
19.
How was the result of the conference received
by the brethren at Antioch? Acts 15:3o, 31.
NOTA
BENE.—The teacher and scholar will please note
that there are
fourteen
Sabbaths in this quarter and but
thirteen
lessons. But as there are but
twelve
Sabbaths
next quarter, and
thirteen
lessons will be provided, it has
been thought best to, have the lesson of December 31
counted as the first lesson of the first quarter of 1893.
This will not disarrange our schools or record books, and
is the easiest way to dispose of this transient irregular-
ity.—EDITOR
B. S. L.
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